DIGITAL PRINTING AND EMBOSSING
A method and equipment to form a digital print by applying dry colourants on a surface, bonding a part of the colourants with a binder and removing the non-bonded colourants from the surface. Also, a method to form embossed structures. Hard press particles may be applied in patterns on a carrier that is pressed against a surface.
1 . A method of forming a digital print on a surface wherein the method comprises the steps of:
applying colourants on the surface;
bonding a part of the colourants to the surface with a binder; and
removing non-bonded colourants from the surface such that a digital print is formed by the bonded colourants.
2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the colourants comprise pigments mixed with the binder.
3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises a thermosetting resin.
4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises a thermoplastic resin.
5 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the binder is a powder.
6 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the surface is a paper layer or a foil.
7 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises a powder layer.
8 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the surface is a part of a building panel.
9 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the surface is a part of a floor panel.
10 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the colourants are removed by an airstream.
11 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the binder is a blank ink comprising a liquid substance that is applied by a digital drop application head.
12 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a laser beam or a heating print head makes the bonding.
13 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the liquid substance is water based.
14 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the liquid substance is exposed to IR light or hot air.
15 . The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the liquid substance is exposed to UV light.
16 . The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the liquid substance is applied with a Piezo ink head.
17 . The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the liquid substance is applied with a thermo ink head.
18 . The method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the liquid substance is applied with drops arranged in a raster and wherein the colourants are bonded with several drops.
19 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the colourants have a particle body comprising fibres or mineral material.
20 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the surface with the bonded colourants is pressed.
21 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the surface with the bonded colourants is heated and pressed
22 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises another colour than the colourants.
23 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the method comprises additional steps of applying new colourants with a different colour on the first bonded colourants and on the surface, bonding a part of the new colourants to the surface with a binder and removing non-bonded new colourants from the surface such that a digital print is formed with the first and the new colourants positioned side by side on the surface.
24 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the colourants are applied by scattering.
25 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the colourants are arranged in a wood grain or a stone pattern.
26 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the surface and the colourants are pressed and cured to a hard surface with an embossed structure.
27 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the colourants are macro colourant particles larger than 20 microns.
28 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the colourants are pressed into the surface.
29 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the surface is a part of a panel that is a laminate or wood floor, a powder based floor, a tile or a LVT floor.